A can-do philosophy at Clay High

Students compete to hit canned goods collecting goal.

Students compete to hit canned goods collecting goal.

December 15, 2006|JIM MEENAN Tribune Staff Writer

The excitement is building at Clay High School. So is the suspense. Will the Clay Canned Food Drive be able to top last year's astronomical numbers of 200,000 cans? Will it be able to reach its 185,000-can goal for this year? No one knows for sure. But they do plan on taking their annual "can-do" attitude into the final days of the three-week drive. So far, about 22,000 cans have been collected. "We really depend on the Mad Mad Dash on the 18th (of December)," said Simone Bigi, vice president of the student council, who is in charge of this year's drive. "Usually it's pretty slow (during most of the drive) and on that one night, it's amazing how many cans are brought in." The Mad Mad Dash lasts from 6 to 10 p.m. Monday and the contest between the freshman, sophomore, junior and senior classes sometimes results in a class holding its numbers down until the final day, where it can bring in tens of thousands and come away with the title. "Usually the seniors are hoarding them and then bring them in on the last day," said Debbie Foy, student council adviser who has played a major role in the drive the last six years. Foy wants the public to know students will be out, especially that night, collecting cans. And also that the public is welcome to drop cans or even a financial donation to the drive anytime during normal school hours, plus from 6 to 10 p.m. Monday. The competition and tradition of the long-held drive is one thing, but the reality is many local agencies ---- from South Bend and Mishawaka ---- depend on the results. "We are hopeful (of a large response) because we have 17 different agencies that depend on us for the food for the Christmas season," Foy said. From small church pantries that feed people to homeless shelters to the Food Bank of Northern Indiana ---- all are helped. "Every year the need seems to get greater," Foy said. "This year a lot of people (from agencies) are saying that they are helping a lot of families and their cupboards are bare." As part of the service project, Clay will also be participating in the 22 Ways of Giving sponsored by WSBT, presenting several checks to local agencies Saturday. For Clay, the annual drive serves as a reminder to the school and the community, that good things happen there. "For me (it's) to help Clay's image a little bit and to help people," Bigi said. "A lot of people are affected by it and a lot of different charities. They are so grateful and people really give us a lot of respect for what we do." "We have a lot of good things going on here," Foy said. "It's a way for the entire student body and faculty to pull together. This is a big community project where everybody pitches in."Staff writer Jim Meenan: jmeenan@sbtinfo.com (574) 235-6342